Alleged fake honey's impact on Australia's bees and crops

Key horticulture figures have echoed concerns about the need for a vibrant Australian beekeeping industry that provide bees to pollinate crops, in the wake of tests from a German lab which found that some honey sold in Australia was deemed adulterated.

Australian farmers hire bees and bee hives which are placed in their crops to assist with pollination. This is done by almond, cherry, apple growers and others.

The tests were commissioned by the law firm King & Wood Mallesons on behalf of horticulturalist Robert Costa, who said he was concerned cheap imported honey was hurting the local honey industry, making it difficult for beekeepers to compete, and that this, in turn would have serious consequences for agriculture which relies on bees to pollinate crops.